Jason Fischer's Blog, page 21

Midnight Echo #6 – Press Release

The Australian Horror Writers Association is pleased to announce the line-up of the sixth issue of their official fiction magazine, Midnight Echo. This edition is a themed issue, with all stories being science fiction horror.

The nine stories are set in the far future and taking place in the distant reaches of space. Inside you'll discover a strange world with a planetary ring forged from organic matter, bizarre aliens cataloguing and collecting humans to populate their idea of paradise, Lovecraftian horrors come to life in the heart of a comet, cybernetic monsters hunting humans in the hull of an abandoned star ship, and paranoid space explorers pushed to their limits at the frontier of an uncharted universe.

Stories have been penned by various renowned speculative fiction authors from Australia and the United States, including:

Cody Goodfellow – editor of Perilous Press and author of Radiant Dawn and Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars
Cat Sparks – fiction editor for Cosmos Magazine and multiple Aurealis Award winning author
Stephen Dedman – Australian science fiction veteran and author of Shadows Bite and Foreign Bodies
Shane Jiraiya Cummings – Managing Editor of Horrorscope.com.au and author of Phoenix and the Darkness of Wolves
Joanne Anderton – author of upcoming speculative fiction novel Debris

Emerging talented authors include Helen Stubbs, Alan Baxter, Andrew J. McKiernan, Mark Farrugia, and poet Jenny Blackford.

The issue will feature an in depth interview with Charles Stross, one of the most imaginative and insightful science fiction authors writing today. Stross has been honoured with two Hugo awards and Locus Reader awards, and has published more than a dozen novels, including Saturn's Children and The Fuller Memorandum. He talks to David Conyers for Midnight Echo about his Lovecrafitan science fiction horror series, The Laundry, and his latest novel, Rule 34.

A second interview is with Chris Moore, world renowned British science fiction artist best known for his striking covers for Orion Publishing's SF Masterworks series and for his official wallpaper art for film The Empire Strikes Back. Insights are gained into Moore's process for achieving his striking and imaginative art, and the many changes he has been facing in the publishing industry since he began illustrating in the 1970s.

The cover for Midnight Echo 6, 'Strange Behaviour', is a creation of talented UK artist, Paul Drummond, who will be well-known to readers of Interzone for his striking depictions of star ships, futuristic humans and robots.

Featured interior illustrators include:

Steve Gilberts – Apex Digest, Space and Time, and Book of Dark Wisdom
David Lee Ingersoll – The Black Seal and Worlds of Cthulhu
Olivia Kernot – Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine
Nathan Wyckoff – Jumpgates Comics

Midnight Echo 6: The Science Fiction Horror Special, has been edited by South Australian trio, David Kernot (editor of Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine), Jason Fischer (Writers of the Future winner and Aurealis nominee), and David Conyers (author of The Eye of Infinity, The Spiraling Worm and co-editor of Cthulhu Unbound 3), and is due for release in November 2011.

Further details on Midnight Echo can be found at http://www.australianhorror.com/

Previous issues of Midnight Echo can be purchased at http://www.shop.australianhorror.com/

It's the Super-Mega Pimp-My-Peeps Post!

It has definitely been a while since I did one of these. Many of my talented writer buddies have been going great guns just lately, and I would be remiss in not pointing you towards these fine new works!

Felicity Dowker

Felicity's delicious novella Phantasy Moste Grotesk has just been reprinted online over at The Red Penny Papers. I can vouch for this book as a ripper of a read, a great exercise in psychological horror. The creepiness can be found herein:

http://redpennypapers.com/2011/04/17/felicity-dowkers-phantasy-moste-grotesk-begins/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(gotta love that cover!)

Alan Baxter

Alan has just released an e-book summarising a panel he has given at conventions, the book is called "Write the Fight Write". He knows his stuff, and teaches martial arts when not writing. I've already found this book to be an invaluable aid when crafting combat scenes in my fiction, and can't recommend it highly enough. More on the book here:

http://www.alanbaxteronline.com/write-fight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(he also has a swag of other books available here: http://www.alanbaxteronline.com/books)

Angela Slatter

This lady has got the writing chops, make no mistake. Her story "Lavender and Lych-Gates" is appearing in the upcoming Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 22 (ed. Stephen Jones), and her series Brisneyland by Night (a fun urban fantasy which originally appeared at the erstwhile Daily Cabal) is being reprinted in the Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror, (ed. Paula Guran). She's also up for *three* Aurealis Awards, one against herself (a piece co-written with her Brain).

Speaking of her brain:

Lisa Hannett

At the end of July, the ever ascendant Lisa will see the publication of her first collection Bluegrass Symphony. Lisa is a truly amazing scribbler, and it was very easy to predict her appearance on all of the recent awards lists. Do yourself a favour and pre-order her book from Ticonderago via this link – that way, you can get your grotty mitts on a copy while saving 20% off: http://www.indiebooksonline.com/catalog/specials.php

These two folks are also working on a joint collection, Midnight and Moonshine, due out November 2012 (apocalypse permitting of course). Here's the link for those interested:
http://ticonderogapublications.com/tp/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=113:midnight-and-moonshine-at-ticonderoga&catid=86:midnight-and-moonshine&Itemid=119
 
Peter M Ball
 
This dude doesn't even *need* to be pimped, but while I'm here hollering and waving my swagger stick, here's the skinny. He has a story "Dying Young" in Eclipse 4. This is a truly top-shelf series of anthologies, caviar spec-fic if you will. A great mile-stone for Peter's writing, and I recommend that you get all over this book like a cheap suit.
 

 
More info here:  http://www.nightshadebooks.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=170
 
Eric James Stone
I met Eric at WOTF last year, he's been a stalwart in short fiction markets such as Analog, and is really going places. Not only that, he's a lovely bloke and really believes in the paying-it-forward stuff that is so important in writing circles. He's drip-feeding his new novel one chapter at a time onto his blog, and it's well worth checking out. Have been enjoying this story, a great premise that you, ahem, won't soon forget http://www.ericjamesstone.com/blog/2011/04/05/unforgettable-cover-teaser/
 
Steve Savile
Another WOTF buddy, who describes himself as "the best-selling author you've never heard of", while quietly helping us neo-pro writers with his savvy business sense (and powerful pun resilience). He's been going great guns with his thriller novel "Silver", and it's actually now in the top #5 in the UK Kindle store! Really fun stuff, in the flavour of Dan Brown but with much less bullshit.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silver/dp/B004P1J2TA/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303881186&sr=1-1-fkmr1
 
Brad R Torgerson
Make a note of this dude's name, he is going gang-busters at the moment and you'll be seeing plenty of books from him in the near future (or I'll eat my hat). Since his WOTF win he has had a tonne of pro-sales, and basically owns shares in Analog now or something. He's got a new piece up at the Intergalactic Medicine Show, get onto it:
http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.com/cgi-bin/mag.cgi?do=issue&vol=i22&article=_004
 
Jeff Young
Another WOTF peep, Jeff has a story "Blankets" in an upcoming anthology, more details here:
http://www.darkquestbooks.com/store/product-info.php?pid94.html
Looks fun!
That will probably do for now, I'm sure there's some folks that I've forgotten or whose emails I've misplaced, but I can always bust out the swagger stick and pimp some more upcoming works in the not-too-distant future

Contents for Year's Best Australian Fantasy and Horror Announced

Some great news that I can finally reveal to the world. My short story "The School Bus" (from Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #46) is going to be reprinted in the Year's Best Australian Fantasy and Horror, from Ticonderoga Publications. This is going to be an absolute door-stop of a book, cram-packed with quality short stories from Australia's best and brightest. I think I'm gonna shell out for the hard-cover version of this, and pop it onto the brag shelf with pride even better, once more I get to share a print collection with many of my buddies and peeps, which is always a nice feeling.

Here's the press release, with the full (and rather impressive) table of contents. That's some nice work, folks! 

—-

Ticonderoga Publications is walking on sunshine to announce the contents for its inaugural Year's Best Australian Fantasy and Horror anthology.

Editors Liz Grzyb and Talie Helene have produced a list of 33 excellent tales by some of Australia's biggest names as well as some emerging writers.

The anthology collects 150,000 words of the best stories published last year from the Antipodes.

"We're pleased with the number of fabulous stories that were published in 2010 that we had to choose from," Liz Grzyb said.

"You could hold this anthology up against any international collection – Australians rock for diverse voices, imagination, and compelling writing," Talie Helene added.

The stories are (alphabetically by writer):

RJ Astruc: "Johnny and Babushka"
Peter M Ball: "L'esprit de L'escalier"
Alan Baxter: "The King's Accord"
Jenny Blackford: "Mirror"
Gitte Christensen: "A Sweet Story"
Matthew Chrulew: "Schubert By Candlelight"
Bill Congreve: "Ghia Likes Food"
Rjurik Davidson: "Lovers In Caeli-Amur"
Felicity Dowker: "After the Jump"
Dale Elvy: "Night Shift"
Jason Fischer: "The School Bus"
Dirk Flinthart: "Walker"
Bob Franklin: "Children's Story"
Christopher Green: "Where We Go To Be Made Lighter"
Paul Haines: "High Tide At Hot Water Beach"
L.L. Hannett: "Soil From My Fingers"
Stephen Irwin: "Hive"
Gary Kemble: "Feast Or Famine"
Pete Kempshall: "Brave Face"
Tessa Kum: "Acception"
Martin Livings: "Home"
Maxine McArthur: "A Pearling Tale"
Kirstyn McDermott: "She Said"
Andrew McKiernan: "The Memory Of Water"
Ben Peek: "White Crocodile Jazz"
Simon Petrie: "Dark Rendezvous"
Lezli Robyn: "Anne-droid of Green Gables"
Angela Rega: "Slow Cookin' "
Angela Slatter: "The Bone Mother"
Angela Slatter & LL Hannett: "The February Dragon"
Grant Stone: "Wood"
Kaaron Warren: "That Girl"
Janeen Webb: "Manifest Destiny"

In addition to the above incredible tales, the volume will include a review of 2010 and a list of recommended stories.

The editors will shortly begin reading for the second volume of The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror.

The anthology is scheduled for publication in June 2011. The anthology will be available in hardcover, ebook and trade editions and may be pre-ordered at http://indiebooksonline.com.

Should have been up for the Archibald "The Death of Spongebob"

Death of Sponge Bob – Erik Alos

"Alluding to the BP oil spill, the painting foresees an environmental apocalypse from man's rape and destruction of the natural world. There is only one possible savior. The ancient hymn notes, "Absorbent, yellow and porous is He." Although immaculately conceived by asexual budding, the poriferan is paradoxically both completely divine and the most primitive animal in the ocean's depths. As a sea creature, he succumbs to the toxic effects of the oozing petroleum. Still, the death of the only savior does not leave mankind without hope. With his dying breaths, he infuses his rainbow soul into the remaining, healthy biosphere. His one tired eye conveys both sadness, and forgiveness of mankind's betrayal. An innocent flaxen-haired virgin cradles the dying deity in her arms, but as the mother of future generations of mankind, she represents hope. As she looks to heavens for guidance, the Holy Spirit, represented as a crowned oily pelican, looks on reassuringly."

(from http://www.mars-z.org/post/4480991327/death-of-sponge-bob-erik-alos-alluding-to-the)

Oh, what's this trumpet for? Why, to toot my own horn :-)

Haven't done an updatey type post for a while, but here's some writing-related stuff worth whacking on the ole blog:

Anywhere But Earth

First up, the complete Table of Contents for the Anywhere but Earth anthology has been released here: http://keithstevenson.com/CDLblog/201...

It looks AWESOME. Several of my local writing idols have rated a spot in the book, and I'm totally chuffed that one of my Clarion stories "Eating Gnashdal" is also in the mix. Can't wait to get my grotty hands on a copy (I especially love that retro-looking cover).

Shared Universe Shenanigans

A project I've been involved in with some of my Writers of the Future colleagues looks like it's about to go live. It involves a single character in a shared universe, and it's been both interesting and challenging to work for. Will say more when I can, but the editor has a great track record, the other authors seem to be top-notch writers or prolific young turks, and rather than a e-zine it seems more like an interactive community with some great possibilities. Again, more when I can say, will pop the link here when it all goes live. I maintain that writing is the single coolest job I've ever had

Review – An Eclectic Slice of Life

A review of Eclecticism's first anthology An Eclectic Slice of Life has just gone live over at Horrorscope. Reviewer Matthew Tait has this to say about my contributions to the volume:

"Both Houndkin and The Ward of Hours take on mythological creatures set against eccentric backdrops – one in a hospital ward that lies at the nexus of time. The prose is mature and effortless … and it's easy to see the argument for his success"

Full review can be read here: http://www.horrorscope.com.au/2011/04/review-eclectic-slice-of-life.html

That's lovely, made my day that I really get a kick when someone enjoys my Raoul stories, the same protagonist as from my WOTF-winning story House of Nameless – oh look, here's a link where you can read it for free! http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/43525 Oh hey, here's the Ditmar ballot where it's up for Best Short Story, if you're so inclined http://wiki.sf.org.au/images/d/d4/2011_Ditmar_ballot.pdf :-)

Midnight Echo #6

Just on the tail-end of it all now, doing the usual jiggery-pokery with contracts, bios, edits, and putting together an editorial for our themed issue. Was great fun, but will definitely be a relief to hand everything over once we're finished.

RIP Livejournal

I've decided I'm more or less done with the infamous Russian Spam Factory, and will migrate most of my f-list and feeds into Google Reader. I just can't do it anymore, everytime I fire it up it's just depressing. I'll still export this website via an LJ x-post, but apart from that I probably won't be on there much from now on.

And the teaser…

There's another cool bit of news that landed in my inbox this week, but it is unfortunately embargoed information. It's killing me but the rules are the rules, I'll post a mini update when it's announced and all official-like. I LOVE BEING A WRITER!

A moment of attempted embeddery.

Just trying out the embedding of You-Tube clips via WordPress…was having some troubles, but an update looks like it stops the code from just dropping off the page when I hit update. It's been flipping ages since I got a video clip to work on this site. To my sadness though, I seem to have lost the awesome banner that Nyssa Pascoe designed for me. Sigh.

It seems fitting that the attempt at embeddery is used to share the most ridiculous Gunners song. I think that "So Fine" was recorded as a joke, but it is hard to dislodge this early 90s ear-worm. I apologise for the excessive shots of Axl Rose's junk, which the white shorts do little to disguise (or indeed, flatter).

Travel through time…in style

RIP Daily Cabal

The flash-fiction collective known as the Daily Cabal is winding its way to a dignified end, and myself and several of the previous contributors have given final short pieces of fiction to the site by way of goodbye.

My own piece "Shore-Birth" can be found at the following link:

http://www.dailycabal.com/2011/03/shore-birth/

This piece has much meaning for me, and I wrote it shortly after my son was born, and we first dipped his new toes into an almost still sea, on a weird muggy day. It became the opening for a much longer story, but I could never quite get it to work. This story narrates the birth (or rebirth) of Raoul Mithras, the protagonist of my WOTF winning story "The House of Nameless".

So a story about birth amongst death seems an appropriate send-off for a noble venture. Something like four solid years of flash fiction, updated daily. Previous writers for the Daily Cabal included Angela Slatter, Sara Genge, Jeremiah Tolbert, Luc Reid, Daniel Braum, and Jason Erik Lundberg amongst many other talented and prodigious scribblers. Thanks for having me folks, it was a blast!

2011 Ditmar Awards Shortlists

I went offline for a few days, and returned to see that the 2011 Ditmar Awards Shortlists have been released into the wild. Lots of great works, and like the recent Aurealis shortlists it looks like a solid selection in all categories. Even cooler, my Writers of the Future winning short story "The House of Nameless" has been shortlisted in the Best Short Story category

Best Short Story

————————————————————————

* "All the Love in the World", Cat Sparks (Sprawl, Twelfth Planet Press)

* "Bread and Circuses", Felicity Dowker (Scary Kisses, Ticonderoga Publications)

* "One Saturday Night With Angel", Peter M. Ball (Sprawl, Twelfth Planet Press)

* "She Said", Kirstyn McDermott (Scenes From the Second Storey, Morrigan Books)

* "The House of Nameless", Jason Fischer (Writers of the Future XXVI)

* "The February Dragon", Angela Slatter and Lisa L. Hannett (Scary Kisses, Ticonderoga Publications)

And even better, every single person in this category is a peep or a buddy of mine, with strong samples of their writing represented in the short-list. It's just too close to call, but the good news is, I'm gonna be happy for someone no matter what the result

The complete shortlist can be found here, and I gotta say, right across the board it's a beauty.

http://2011.swancon.com.au/natcon-fifty-ditmar-awards/

Congratulations to everyone who rated a mention, commiserations to those who missed out. And many, many thanks to those who put my story forward in their nomination form, it's great to know that folks enjoyed it enough to enter it into the Ditmars. The free e-book version of "The House of Nameless" can still be found here, for those attendees who are looking at their form and trying to suss out their final vote: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/43525

Thanks again!

Midnight Echo #6 Table of Contents

Without further ado, it's time to announce the Table of Contents for issue #6 of Midnight Echo, the magazine of the Australian Horror Writers Association. The theme for the issue was science fiction/horror, and we've picked some absolute beauties for you!

"Out Hunting for Teeth" by Joanne Anderton
"Trawling the Void" by Alan Baxter
"Silver-Clean" by Jenny Blackford
"Graveyard Orbit" by Shane Jiraiya Cummings
"More Matter, Less Art" by Stephen Dedman
"Seeds" by Mark Farrugia
"Earth Worms" by Cody Goodfellow
"The Wanderer in the Darkness" by Andrew J McKiernan
"Dead Low" by Cat Sparks
"Surgeon Scalpelfingers" by Helen Stubbs

This issue will also contain interviews with Chris Moore and another well known sci fi author who will be announced later, and all sorts of other bits and pieces. I can promise you some great fiction from these fantastic authors, who've done a top job of exploring our SF/Horror theme, as originally conceived by David Conyers. These are all quite meaty reads, and we've done our best to keep it all killer, no filler.

Many thanks to my fellow co-editors, David Conyers and David Kernot, who were absolute legends in helping pull this together, and to Leigh Blackmore and the rest of the Midnight Echo team for their hard work behind the scenes. Not sure of the actual publication date just yet, but will post more when this information comes to light.

Congratulations to the successful authors!